For years, leaders and citizens in the United States have viewed China through a mixed lens. Some saw it as an economic partner, others as a competitor, and some as a distant concern. But recent global events have clarified that the time for vague opinions about China is over. We need to take this issue seriously now, not later.
China is not just another country with strong exports. It is a state with long-term goals, a growing military, and a strategy to shift global influence in its direction. Much of its success in doing so has been made possible by its trade relationship with the United States.
According to Edouard Prisse’s book We Are Funding China’s Growth That Must Stop!, the U.S. has effectively bankrolled China’s global rise. How, you may ask? For instance, year after year, America imports far more from China than it sells in return. The money from that imbalance builds Chinese reserves, which are then used to fund projects, research, and influence campaigns around the world.
This is not speculation. It is economic reality. China holds over $3 trillion in foreign reserves and has spent billions building infrastructure in developing countries. These projects are often framed as generous investments, but they create long-term political ties and debt obligations. This gives China quiet but strong influence in regions where the U.S. is already struggling to stay relevant.
Many industries that once supported American jobs have disappeared, not due to failure but because they were relocated overseas for cheaper labor and relaxed regulations. While this move was understandable for some companies at the time, it weakened economic resilience. The impact became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic when reliance on foreign supply chains caused shortages of essential goods.
The situation is bigger than just trade, as China is also expanding its reach through technology, data collection, and digital infrastructure. Their presence in global communication networks, research partnerships, and online platforms gives them access to information and influence across borders.
Ignoring this would be a mistake. But overreacting with panic would be equally harmful. The solution is to take steady, thoughtful action now.
Therefore, Prisse suggests we move away from unlimited free trade and towards Equal Trade. Let trade continue, but only in balanced amounts. If China wants access to the U.S. market, it should offer the same access in return. This would help rebuild American manufacturing without entirely cutting the U.S. off from the world. It is not about isolation. It is about fairness.
Americans also need to look beyond short-term prices. Cheaper goods can have hidden costs. They can weaken industries, remove jobs, and build foreign leverage. Taking China seriously means taking responsibility for what we import and who we rely on.
This is not a call for fear. It is a call for awareness. The future of U.S. economic and political stability depends on how we handle this challenge together. The longer we wait, the more limited our options become, and we put America and its future at risk.
If you want to understand the full picture and be part of the solution, read We Are Funding China’s Growth That Must Stop! by Edouard Prisse. It is a timely and necessary guide for the choices we face now.
Here is a link to purchase: www.amazon.com/dp/1967963053.
We Were Funding China’s Growth That Must Stop! by Edouard Prisse is a sharp, well-researched examination of how decades of misguided free trade with China have fueled the rise of America’s greatest rival. Drawing on the economic insights of John Maynard Keynes, Prisse explains how the 2001 decision to welcome China into the global trade system created a one-sided relationship that drained Western industries while empowering Beijing’s authoritarian regime. The book not only exposes the dangers of this ongoing imbalance—job losses, weakened manufacturing, and growing geopolitical risks—but also offers a clear solution: shifting from “free trade” to “Equal Trade,” a value-balanced system that ensures reciprocity and protects democracy. Both a warning and a roadmap, this book is essential reading for policymakers, business leaders, economists, and citizens who care about safeguarding the future of free societies.
